NAIJA GOOD: MUSIC IN NIGERIA (Afrobeats, Fuji, Alte, Highlife, Apala etc).

HAPPY NEW MONTH!^_^

NAIJA GOOD: MUSIC IN NIGERIA (Afrobeats, Fuji, Alte, Igbo Music, Apala etc)

We must discuss the sweet dominacy of Nigerian music over the years and at the moment.
It is now a pride to say that no serious music fan home and abroad doesn’t know of the Nigerian music genres.

Various music genres has come to stay in the country and now making huge waves internationally. Music in the country has stood the test of time and is now among the best of all times.

Music in Nigeria can be divided into three periods which are: THE TRADITIONAL PERIOD that’s from mid 19th century, THE POST WESTERN INFLUENCE PERIOD & THE CONTEMPORARY POPULAR MUSIC from 1960 till date. Each music era served it’s purpose, entertained audiences and served as a medium for voices to be heard. Each Artistes keeps leaving their foot prints and paving ways for upcoming artistes.

And although foreign genres made it’s way into the country, it was attempted and then later on given unique feels and mix by some Nigerian singers.
An example of this is JOSIAH RANSOM KUTI in 1922 who started singing the gospel hymns in Yoruba so fine that he got invited to London to sing it.

There are different music genres in Nigeria which has made its way in history from way back, NAIJA GOOD today will tell you a few about them!

‘HIGHLIFE ‘: was the musical lingua franca of anglophones West Africa but then Nigeria’s LADIPO SOLANKE who was a lawyer and political activist made popular Music history with Highlife. And then a plethora stars emerged from the highlife in Nigeria which are; BOBBY BENSON, ISHOLA WILLIE PAYNE, BALA MILLER , VICTOR OLAIYA, ADEKUNLE GOLD etc -followed by PHILIPS WEST AFRICA RECORDS, LAGOS a record label in 1993.

‘JUJU‘: JUJU Music evolved in 1930 fused with ‘Palm wine guitar music’ which is a fusion of Latin & Carribean and traditional Yoruba music. Stars like _KAYODE FASHOLU, TUNDE NIGHTINGALE, SF OLOWOKERE, EBENEZER OBEY, SHINA PETERS, SEGUN ADEWALE and KING SUNNY ADE.

‘WAKA‘: is a popular Islamic-oriented Yoruba MUSIC genre made popular by ALHAJA BATILE ALAKE from IJEBU: she was the first Waka singer to record an album and took the genre into mainstream by playing it at concerts and parties.

‘REGGAE‘: Reggae became a major part of the music industry in Nigeria especially after the rise of MAJEK FASHEK, It wasn’t birthed in Nigeria but attempted and now has pros like 2Baba, Patoranking, Blackface and Burnaboy on it’s mainstream. The Advent of ‘Dancehall & Reggae’ saw the emergence of more stars and more successful multi award winners.

‘The Nigerian Alte‘: This style broke into the Nigerian music industry in the late 2000, the new generation has a few tricks and uniqueness off their sleeves. LADY DONLI, MELVITTO, ADEKUNLE GOLD, ODUNSI THE ENGINE and more new voices in the Alte’ world like TEMS & WURLD: These artistes redefines Nigeria’s aesthetic through their music and fashion.

‘FUJI‘: FUJI is an indegenous mixture of traditional Yoruba music and Islamic chant which gave birth to APALA and SAKARA Music in 1970. The success of this genre began with SIKIRU AYINDE BARRISTER , KOLLINGTON AYINLA and a female artiste – SALEWA ABENI. Others like _OBESERE, _KING WASIU AYINDE, WASIU ALABI PASUMA emerged in 1980 and therefore resonates the biggest stars in any genre. Fuji is known for it’s loud instrument, richness of Yoruba and blasting the stereos at OWAMBEs.

‘AFROBEATS‘: We aren’t talking about Music Genres in Nigeria if Afrobeats isn’t mentioned, also known as Afropop -it is the most popular Music genre in Nigeria, a mixture of African music, traditional Yoruba and American soul & jazz. ARIWO is the first ever Afrobeat track by saxophonist CHRIS AJILO to be recorded in 1961. However, the genre was popularised by FELA KUTI, he was inspired by the Black Panther movement in 1960/1970. FELA’s music brought him international acclaim even till after his death in 1997 and now his sons Femi & Seun Kuti now carries on his legacy with their individual imprints.
The beats include the talking drum, Bata, Gbedu, Sakara drums, west kalangu, tambari-kettle and more from north, west, south, east Africa.

Music in Nigeria is a big testimony that NAIJA is good. Nigerian music has brought so many hopes to Nigerians, it has become a source of vent, an entertainment, a lure to celebrate and collaborations between different ethnic groups. Somehow, it has calm the storm, put our tribes and cultures out there and given so many singers huge prestige and sources of income.

Other genres are: Apala, Yoruba music, Nigerian gospel, Igbo Music, Dadakuada, Sakara Music, Igbo Highlife, Were music, Hausa music and Ajisari.

Our music has gone viral, global and inspired International Artistes. We have legends who didn’t just lend their voices to use their music to fight for peace and call out wrongful politics, they have also paved the way and pass the torches down to their children reaching every generation: a great example is JOSIAH RANSOM KUTI who made Yoruba versions of hymns written and sung by the foreign gospel singers then got invited to sing the Yoruba version abroad, we know it didn’t stop there -he is the grandfather of FELA KUTI who we remember and deem an icon for his music that gave out many torches including to his sons.

Music in Nigeria is now recognized in various continents and we don’t mind showing them what good music feels like, Artistes like BURNA BOY, WIZKID, TIWA SAVAGE, DAVIDO, YEMI ALADE and so many others have been collaborating with many bonafide Artistes abroad and we must confess that it mixs well.

Nigerian music is doing excellent, hence! NAIJA GOOD .